Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
Our “station” in life is to be the best restaurant critics for you, our loyal readers. We “engineer” our articles and try to keep them “on track” even if we have to “blow the whistle” on some of the restaurants. Our “next stop” will be the Cary “depot” and the Tracks Bar and Grill.
Tracks Bar & Grill
108 W. Main Street
Cary 60013
(847) 639-6064
www.tracksbarandgrill.com
Directions: Take Rte. 47 North to Algonquin Road East to N. Main Street Turn Left, Right onto Cary Road then Right onto W. Main Street
Estimated Travel Time: 30 minutes
We picked up “steam” when we spotted the restaurant, but we kept on getting “switched” around on different roads leading up to it. It’s one of those places you can see, but can’t quite get to. But never fear, we kept on “chuggin’” along and finally arrived at our destination. Parking there is a challenge in itself, so be alert and keep your eyes open for any available space. This is not a handicap accessible venue.
When you enter the establishment, the bar is on the right and a series of high top tables are on the left. These seats are first come, first served. At the end of the long bar is a hostess area for the dining room. It was 1 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon when we arrived, and were amazed when we saw a line of people waiting to be seated. The dining room has two communal tables and several regular tables, and they all have bar type stools to sit on, which can be a bit uncomfortable for any length of time. The solution for this is to sit at the bar where, ironically, they have actual chairs with backs on them.
For an appetizer, Jim suggested one of his favorites, deep fried cheese balls ($7.75). This may seem expensive, but the portion was huge and we took half of it home in a doggie bag. These little morsels were crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
This restaurant was featured on WGN’s “Chicago’s Best” program for their burgers. They have over 25 varieties to choose from. All of their burgers are 10 oz. Angus hand-packed, fresh, never frozen, beef served on a grilled buttered brioche bun. These monstrous burgers come with either homemade chips or fries, and the obligatory cup of coleslaw.
Jim ordered the Italiano Burger ($8.25), which had roasted red peppers, giardiniera, provolone cheese, and a pesto mayo sauce. For his side he chose French fries.
Hot stuff Nancy chose the “Chicago Heat” Burger (9.75), which had “lots of bacon,” pepper jack cheese, onion straws, and a spicy sauce. She chose the homemade chips for her side.
All of our effort in locating the restaurant, parking, and waiting for our table proved to be well worth it. When the waitress brought over our burgers, our jaws dropped, they were that big. The burger looked every bit of 10 oz. and then some! We both ordered our burgers well done and they were still juicy. These burgers are now considered one of the “Dining Duo’s Best.”
Dining Duo Tip: Go for the homemade chips; they are without a doubt, out of this world. If you’re lucky, you’ll get some with a soft bubble in the center.
One suggestion that we both agree on is the re-naming of their menu items. They should be more inventive like the “Depot” Dog, the “American Flyer” Cheeseburger, the “Sleeper Car” Turkey Wrap, and the “Steam Engine” Chili to name a few…
This isn’t a big “ticket” restaurant; you won’t get “derailed” with the price. Our lunch cost us $33.52.
Jim’s take: There’s nothing better than a juicy sloppy burger. It was a close call, but I think Nancy won today.
Nancy’s take: The homemade chips were fantastic and my burger was the best combination ever. My little “caboose” couldn’t wait to get off those stools!
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com.
